Perfect advancement?
Everyone's expressions changed instantly.
They were all Supreme Realm experts, but even among the five of them, no one had achieved a perfect advancement to the Integration Realm.
Perfect advancement was almost a legendary feat.
Over the endless years, it wasn't that no one had attempted it.
But.
Everyone either gave up midway or ran out of lifespan and were forced to give up.
Once, someone was on the verge of achieving perfect advancement but ultimately perished under the terrifying Tribulation of All Things!
They all doubted whether anyone could truly achieve perfect advancement.
Li Shuang's talent was so terrifying that if she insisted on perfect advancement... then wasting a lot of time and eventually choosing to give up would be a good outcome.
The fear was!
That she would actually meet the conditions for perfect advancement and trigger the Tribulation of All Things!
The Tribulation of All Things in that situation would be terrifying beyond compare!
This was... truly asking for death!
"City Lord Yu, if she really has such a thought, you should try to dissuade her early!" Wu Xiang quickly said.
He didn't want to see a top human genius mistakenly pursuing perfection and ruining her cultivation path.
Yu Jin gave a wry smile: "Which of these geniuses listens to advice?"
Everyone fell silent.
They were also geniuses themselves.
They knew that when they were young, they disliked listening to seasoned advice the most.
In the end, reality taught them a lesson.
Which of them hadn't tried perfect advancement?
However, they were all ultimately unable to meet the conditions and were forced to choose direct advancement.
As for Li...
The fear was!
She might actually meet the conditions!
Originally.
After Li Shuang cleared the trial, several people had relaxed a bit, but now, they suddenly became nervous again.
This mischievous child!
She really didn't make things easy for anyone!
Unaware that she had been classified as a mischievous child, Li Shuang sat cross-legged on the seven-layered golden altar, fully absorbing the Five Elements Crystals.
During her eight years of failures, she had already gained a lot of insights, and the current Five Elements Crystals were merely for the final replenishment.
With such a solid foundation, new insights were absorbed exceptionally quickly.
Three months passed.
Li Shuang absorbed all of the high-grade Five Elements Crystals.
The Five Elements Intent was fully integrated into her heart.
Her bottleneck to the Integration Realm was extremely loose.
As long as she wished.
She could enter the Integration Realm in an instant.
But Li Shuang did not immediately choose to advance.
The next moment.
Her figure disappeared from the Soul Golden Altar, as Li Shuang chose to return to the real world.
The others immediately became anxious.
"City Lord Yu! Li is like this already, and she's still unwilling to advance, she's probably going to pursue perfect advancement!"
"Where is she now? You should at least try to persuade her!"
This was still relatively civil.
A more aggressive person like Xing Tian Gang couldn't help but say, "City Lord, you should know the location of her true body. If all else fails, find someone to tie her up and force her to advance immediately."
"Yes, yes, that's also a solution." Ye Hongyao also chimed in, "I have a kind of pill here that can increase the chance of advancement! She's already in a state where she can advance at any time, plus this pill, there's a good chance she'll be forced to advance."
"Even if she resents us later, it's better than letting her perish!"
Everyone spoke up, one after another.
Yu Jin remained silent.
She knew.
These people were all doing it for Li Shuang's good.
But...
Everyone's path must be walked by themselves.
Victory or defeat.
Life or death.
Li Shuang needed to bear this outcome herself.
After everyone had spoken, Yu Jin calmly said, "Everyone has their own aspirations. Forcibly compelling her is tantamount to obstructing her path to cultivation. Even if her life is saved, she will never reach the peak of strength."
Everyone fell silent.
Their concern had just clouded their judgment.
In reality.
At their level, how could they not know that what Yu Jin said was the truth?
After a long while.
Ye Hongyao forced a smile and said, "Perhaps Li will be the first to achieve perfect advancement?"
"Besides, it's just that there are no successful cases recorded in the ancient texts; who's to say someone hasn't succeeded?" Kong Qingluan also comforted her.
What they could do now.
Besides self-comfort, there was only silent waiting.
Sword Sect.
After eight years of secluded cultivation.
Li Shuang finally emerged.
This time, when she emerged.
She didn't meet anyone, but instead first went to the Hall of Life and Soul.
Within this hall.
On one side were the memorial tablets of all those who had died in the Sword Sect throughout history.
On the other side.
Were the life lamps of the living.
When alive, the lamps burned.
When dead, the lamps extinguished.
The memorial tablets of the deceased were densely packed, far outnumbering those of the living.
The lamps of the living flickered with light, representing vitality and hope.
This was...
Life and death.
On the memorial tablets of the deceased, their causes of death were simply written.
Some died suddenly outside, with unknown causes.
Some died of old age.
Some had cultivation mishaps.
Finally.
Li Shuang's gaze fell on the newest few memorial tablets.
These people...
They died for all living things.
Li Shuang stood quietly in the Hall of Life and Soul for a while.
Between life and death.
There was great terror.
And those who overcome such terror.
Possessed great wisdom.
When there was movement outside and someone came to the Hall of Life and Soul, Li Shuang concealed her figure and quietly left.
Then.
She left the Sword Sect directly.
She chose a direction at will and then walked all the way.
This time.
She had no particular goal, just followed her heart.
When she didn't want to rest, she walked day and night.
When she wanted to rest, she stopped and slept soundly for three days and three nights.
Li Shuang walked and stopped like this, taking a month to reach the end of this area.
The City Lord had used astonishing methods to isolate this area.
Before ten years passed, they couldn't leave.
Li Shuang didn't care.
This Dao, was hidden within all things in the world.
Everywhere was the Dao; she didn't need to specifically find a place to comprehend it.
Li Shuang changed direction, and then walked aimlessly.
Time flew by quickly.
A year had passed since Li Shuang left the Soul Golden Altar.
This year.
She hadn't spent a single moment cultivating.
She was either walking or resting, much like an ordinary mortal.
This year.
She stopped to behold everything in the world.
She saw the withering and flourishing of plants.
She saw the mountains, rivers, and earth.
She saw the sun, moon, and stars.
Then.
One day, a year later.
Li Shuang suddenly felt a little tired.
She thought.
It was time to end this kind of life.
It was time to take another step forward.
So.
She arbitrarily chose a small hillside and sat down cross-legged.
This small hillside had no abundant spiritual energy, no towering peaks.
It was somewhat small, even a little bare.
But Li Shuang didn't care.
The place of advancement didn't need to be specially chosen.
Wherever she happened to be, that was where it would be.
At this moment, the bright moon hung high.
Li Shuang closed her eyes.
The moonlight in the sky cascaded like a waterfall, enveloping her body.
She chuckled softly and began to advance.